Telephone support



May 2, 1944. F. A. LATUS ETAL TELEPHONE SUPPORT Filed Aug. 4, 1942 INVENTORJ HORE/VCE 4. [AH/J 4ND BY W/ZZ/AM {awe/10 Patented May 2, 1944 Latus and William Lehrfeld,

Freeport, N. Y.

Florence A.

OFF-lea I Application August 4, 1942, Serial'No. 453,598

4 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful imincrements in telephone supports, and relates more particularly toa novel frame element-which may be readily positioned on the shoulder of the user which will support a telephone of the hand type, thus leaving both hands of the user free.

In many lines of activity, persons almost constantly talking on the telephone and the necessity of supporting the hand phone for hours at a time, greatly fatigues the user and reduces his vitality. A number of supports which are strapped or otherwise secured to the body have been proposed, but in every instance these devices have been complex, cumbersome structures which are uncomfortable to wear. If, on the other hand, they are of, a type whichare not strapped to the body, they become dislodged with the slightestmovernent of the body.

It is one of the principal objects of the present invention to provide a telephone supporting element which can be instantly placed on the shoul- ,der of the user and willremain in proper position without straps or other fastening elements. The device of the present inventionmay be removed from'the body as easily as it is placed thereon, and when not in use may be placed; upon the usual cradle support for the phone, thus depressing the weight-operated switch associated with such cradlesupport. T

In one embodiment of the presentinvention the hand phone is clamped in operative position on the support so that when it is desired to use the phone the novel supporting element is raisedfrom the cradle, placed upon the shoulder of the user, and the phone is thus ready for use, In

which is simple in construction, light .ln weight,

' and is exceedinglycomfortable when. in position another embodiment of the invention, the clamping member is eliminated and in its place a suitable cradle for the phone, is provided, The former embodiment has the advantage that when a person is not talking on the phone, the supporting element is removedfrom the shoulder. This type of support is desirable in cases wherein conversation, either a single call or a plurality of successive calls, is relatively continuous. The latter embodiment is more useful incases wherein the'useis more or less discontinuous, but wherein it is not desired to remove the support from the shoulderafter each conversation. In other words, when the phonerin'gs the user removes the phone from the usual cradle and simply places it in the supplemental cradle associated with the supporting element of the present invention.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a. novel phone-supporting element Y vide a device of this modified form of cradle structure.

on the body of the user.

A further object ofgthe invention is to' -pro- I character which may readily adjusted to fit any user. I

Another important object of the invention is the provlsion'of a telephone-supporting device which is carried onthe shoulder. of the user wherein'means are provided for positivelypreventing accidental dlslodgementif the user. leans forward, I

In the drawing Fig. 1 is a side elevation the present invention.

I Fig. 2 is a rear elevation thereof.

of one embodiment oi Fig. 3 is a top plan view, 7 I v Fig, 4 is a broken perspective view showing a modified form of shoulder-engaging element- Fig. 5 is a broken side elevation'showlng a modiiled form of cradle support for the phone. Fig. 6 is a top plan view thereof. v Fig. 7 is a transverse section taken Fig. 8 is a further modification. I The first embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, comprises aframe structure including a pair of spaced, shoulderengaging frame elements H and I2 which may be formed from flat strips of relatively springy metal, plastic-material, or the like, These strips are suitably curved throughout their length, generally in the mannershown in Fig. 1, to form a substantially U shaped structure which engages theshoulder of the user. That portion of the frame structure lying to the left in Fig. 1 engages the front shoulder section of the user, and that portion lying to the right engages the rear or back shoulder portion. At the front such frame elements are held in their spaced position by means of a transverse bar I3 which is secured,

to such terminals of the strips I l and [2 by means of bolts or rivets I 4; v

In Fig. 1 both 'frame elements H and I2 are shown as being similarly shaped and of the same height, although in Fig. 2 frame element I2 is shown asbeing slightly higher than element H,

which latter form is probably preferable since ones shoulder is normally slightly higher nearer the neck. At their opposite terminals, frame members I l and I2 are maintained in such spaced relationship by means of another transverse bar l5 which is also secured to the terminalportions ar I5 is formed with an extension portion or arm I1 which may be covered through a withmny suitablepaddinzanotherereilient material,rand'whichzincludes=aniinwardly=turnedporstraight: terminal, .portion: .158; alliters.v purpose to be 'herc-iinafterdescribed..

The frameworkiurtherdncludes'azpaireofigenerallyau shapedx'frame'memb'ersfl'l sandfl'formed' preferably "from flat xstrip rmaterial; the terminal portions of which are .bentiin the-manner: shown at '23 and 24, respectively, in orderto provide 'flat. terminal surfaces "which may :be .secured to frame elements Fl 1 and 1.2 thy-means -:of bolts 'Mii in the mannershown. i .flat' horizontallstrip 52.6 is

secured adjacent to alts terminals .to "such t!" shaped members .2zl wand i-titby'means ao'f screws i 29. Y Y

The phone-clamping :structure einpludesplates "3 I and J32,v both of which are preferably 'afformed from :flat .sheet material. Plate JI has arsubstantially fiat intermediate sectiontifl' and. :an upper, substantially U shapedportiontfliprovided with a resilient lining :35. it isxfurther formed with a lower,1inwardly:turnedlbase portion 136,- the lower. surface :01 :which convei'dy curved. This base :portionds formedwith .aaplurality of spaced apertures :31 *therein: Plate 2-3 licomprises'. a lower portion 40- whichiis. securedito intermediate portion 33" of member 3:3'I by means of: aibolt l2:;'provided lwith aknurled head-l3 at .one end thereof and carrying .a' conventional :nut 44'. Place 32 :further includesan :upper iportion l'wwhich may be somewhat inwardiyinclined' and is provided with a resilient .innerjtacing a".

The hand :phone .66 rshown :in broken lines in Fig.- 1 is received :atsls'ubstantiallyiits central portion betweenuppercclamping :portions 34 and. of elementsal'l wand Bland-whe'nthe nut-and-bolt assemblydsetightened; the phone becomes .firmly clamped between suchelements. Flat strip .28 is likewise provided with-1a, plurality .of spaced apertures "5 I and a .headed "bolt. .53 cooperating with azwing-lnut iflxcarried therebyilrmly clamps curved basersection 136 .flatstrip 2 8; Inasmuch assuchLlatter..stripzhaaapluralityicof spaceti:-aper- 1 tons therein; and Linasinuch: ;i'urther, as ecurved v base portioniii zlikewlseihasga .p'lurality of: spaced apertures, it will .ibe seen ithattthemlamping ele ment comprising members "3i .and432 may be placed at any-position on :fiat plate 228 and the phone maylilrewise .be positioned. at 1 any desired angle. V lnordercto aflordgreater: support zfor ele- .ment 2 I,j.flat plate .;26:-imay*have:-a verticali'fln or rib 56. Adjacent :toithel' frontxterminal portions of 'frame members IJI Eliza strip of rubherior other resilient .or ='padding.;:material 60 may be secured; and ..a similar. strip 6| :securedeadjacent to the .-rear terminals -xof ithe :same .frame :mem-- bers. v

When cthe-adevice of 1 the presentdnventionis .to

1 be used, the phone is clamped. between ele- 'ments 31" and "'32, "and the frame-structure then placed upon the-shoulderof :the user. iInzthe arrangement' illustrated vin -F'lgs'. 1, v2 and 3, the

-frameelement isadapted "for use on therlefthand shoulderof theuserpalthouglrifsit is' desired to have the phone :placed upon .theright-hand shoulder, "the positionof strip liizhaving extension I1 is' merely reversed'from the position shown :in 'Fig. :2, and :frame elements :I I and. I2

arelikewise reversed if the latter 'is higher than the former; asshown in .Fig. 2. Frame members I'I andliiare formedwithsucha curvatureas to snugly fit the shoulderdf the user, :and extension portion I1 of strip extendst0ward1thecentralbacksection ofjthezuser, thus exerting a-yield'able pressure .on .the user's .backuan-d definitely spre venting the 'frame structureifrom'ifalling forward should 'theuser incline-his body iforwardly. In view of i the special formation o'f iframermembers II and I2, :and of *the particular location i of ex- :tension portion ll; the frame-element snugly fits the shoulder of the wearer-and accidental dislodgment is definitely-eliminated. Also, no straps or other supporting elements are necessary. a

.It will benotedthat frameelements Hand I2 arespaced a fair distanceapart, andwhen it .is vdesiredkto :remove the vframe structure .from the shoulder-of the risen-flat 'stripfflirmaybe placed :in the :cradle included in the supporting base of 'the usual. .hand-ephone "set, such cradle usually comprising a; pair of spaced, substantially U shaped'fingers which receivetthecentral or handengag'ing'portion offthe phone, the jlower'surface of which :portion engages. a vdepressable weightoperated .switch which-opens the main .circuit when the .phone issupportedfiin such cradle. It

will accordingly be seen thatzthe supporting structure" of :the "present .invention may-be easily :and quicklycremoved from its acradle support to operative-position on the: shoulder: of the user.

In .themodifled embodiment shown :in Fig. 4, the numeral -64 designates one 'ofthe curved,

spaced "frameelements similar to elements I I andv I2 in the first. embodiment of'thelnvention. The portion shown. of $11011. zfrainezelementmay either be the .front or the rear, althoughait .is preferably the. front. In lthissinstance, athe resilient pad .or. lining is eliminated, and =-.a supplemental shoulder-engaging p18,te.465"iSf provided, such I plate preferably extending the full width .of the framesstructure and beingprovided witharesilient pad :66 on :its inner surface. .Plate 66 is mounted relative to frame element 64 :by, means of a threaded :screw .61 secured at its inner terminal to such plate, :as :shownaatE-IGI. The ?screw" passes through 1 an unthreaded-aperture 69 .in

Fig. 4.

'Thezmaximum distance ef-plate 65.1mm frame elements .64 maybe-varied by adJustment: .of

tension in the frame element's-affords a wing'nut n: Accordingly,'"-when the frame structure :is placed upon the shoulder or ithe'user; plate exerts :a yielda'ble .:pressure :on one shoulder tportion of the wearer, vthe extentpf such pressure 'being: dependent upon-the trength of spring 1 I. s It will be appreciated that, this :is one convenient means of making :the-shoulder-engaging; portion :cadjustable, "although zfra'me element I I and I2 ofx'Fig. 1 can also be adjusted by merely bending. them to the desiredshape depending upon the shoulder width-of the'user. The-spring considerable measure of a'dJusta-bility.

In the modified embodiment. of :the invention, shown in Figs-.5 and. 6, theclamping elements I31I and 32 .of: the first embodimentrareteliminated,

and inxits place a cradle is provided. The

hand phone is simply placed .in thecradle and isnotsecured therein by'any clamping element.

Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the phone may be removed from the cradle at will. The cradle element shown in Figs. and 6 is made from wire and includes a receiver-supporting section 16 arid a transmitter-supporting section 11. These two sections are Joined by means of a connecting wire 18 and an intermediate supporting portion 19. The cradle is supported on an elongated plate 80 having fingers 8,! at opposite ends thereof which grasp the wires.

It will be appreciated that by forming the cradle from wires, in the manner just described, the wires may be manually bent so as to exert more or less compressive force on any desired portion of the phone, and if desired, the wires may be so formed as to cause the phone to, in effect. snap into the supporting portions. If it is desired to make the cradle adjustable relative to its support, which in Fig. 5 comprises a plate 84 having a similar function to plate 28 in the first embodiment, various adjusting means may be employed, such, for instance, as any suitable lazy tong structure such as is shown at 85. In order to make the cradle adjustable longitudinally, the upper end of the lazy tong structure may be secured to plate 80 by means of bolts 86 passing through slots 81.

The'modifled cradle structure designated as 90 in Fig. '7 is desirably made from some moldable or plastic material, and i so formed as to snugly receive the phone, a portion of which is shown at 9|. It will be appreciated that any suitable plastic material may be employed for this purpose.

The embodiments of the invention illustrated and described in the foregoing specification may, of course, be considerably modified without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims. For instance, the frame structure illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 comprises a plurality of frame elements separately formed and suitably secured together as by bolting or the like. The entire frame structure however,

could be suitably cast in one piece from plastic port of flat, springy metal 9| is secured at 92 to the frame, and at its terminals passes through brackets 93 secured to the rear surface of plate 89. This arrangement provides a desired measure of resiliency, thus increasing the comfort of the frame element on the shoulder of the wearer, it being appreciated that when plate 89 is depressed rearwardly, the terminals of the spring 9! slide in and out of the b1 ackets 593.

The invention is capable of other modifications and changes as will be appreciated by those skilledlnthe art.

What we claim is:

1. A frame for supporting a telephone on the shoulder of the user in operative position withqut requiring manual support, and being so formed as to be received upon the cradle normally supporting such telephone when not in use, and to depress the weight-operated switch associated with such cradle, said frame comprising a generally U shaped skeleton framework adapted to snugly engage the shoulder of the user, a centrally disposed, generally horizontal plate carried by the skeleton framework, and telephone clampin-g means associated with such plate in adjustable relationship, the iower surface of such plate engaging the weight-operated switch when the structure is in inoperative position on said cradle.

2. A frame structure for supporting a telephone on the shoulder of the user in operative position without requiring manual support, and being so formed as to be received upon the cradle normally supporting such telephone when not in use, and to depress the weight-operated switch associated with such cradle, said structure comprising a generally U shaped skeleton framework adapted to snugly engage the shoulder of the user and being provided on its rear with an extension arm for engaging the back portion of the user to prevent forward movement of the frame structure, a centrally disposed, generally horizontal plate carried by the skeleton framework, and telephone clamping and supporting means associated with such plate in adjustable relationship, the lower surface of such plate engaging the weight-operated switch when the structure is in inoperative position on said cradle.

3. A telephone supporting device adapted to be carried on the shoulder of the user to permit the carrying on of speech without manual support of the telephone, and also adapted to be supported on the cradle which normally supports such telephone when not in use, such device comprising a generally U shaped frame element comprising spaced members adapted to engage the front and rear shoulder portions of the user, means for maintaining such frame members in spaced relation, and an arm extending from the frame element for engaging the back of the user to Drevent forward movement of such frame element relative to the shoulder of the user, an elongated horizontal plate supported adjacent to its terminals between such spaced frame members, and a telephone clamping element adjustably carried by said plate, the lower surface of such plate being adapted to depress the weight-operated switch associated with said cradle when the device is in position on such cradle.

4. A frame structure for supporting a telephone on the shoulder of the user in operative position without requiring manual support, and being so formed as to be received upon the cradle normally supporting such telephone when not in use. and to depress the weight-operated switch associated with such cradle, said structure comprising a generally U shaped skeleton framework adapted to be received on the shoulder of the user, a spring-pressed plate carried on the inner surface of said framework adjacent to one end thereof and adapted to yieldingly engage the shoulder of the user, a centrally disposed, generally horizontal plate carried by the skeleton framework, and telephone clamping and supporting means associated with such plate in adiustable relationship, the lower surface of such plate engaging the weight-operated switch when the structure is in inoperative position on said cradle.

, FLORENCE A. LATUS.

WILLIAM "H. LEHRFELD. 

